Principal Scientific Advisor calls for deeper engagement among Education, sci-tech for a stronger India

BHU confers degrees to 14680 graduands at 103rd convocation, 28 students conferred 32 medals at the main function

Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood has called upon youth to push the frontiers of knowledge and translate their knowledge towards societal development. He was delivering the 103rd Convocation address at Banaras Hindu University’s Swatantrata Bhawan as he called upon the varsity to come forward and contribute in evolving technologies.

Prof. Sood said that the world today looks at India with admiration and expectations that it would contribute to solving global issues, such as clean energy, water remediation, clean environment and sustainable growth.

Prof. Sood said that education, science, technology and innovation, with the involvement of the entire society, are the four key pillars to a strong nation. However, he also pointed out that these pillars have functioned in silos for long and it was high time that the silos were broken, calling for deeper engagement among all four of them.

He said that India realizes that it has to be at par with global competition in digital technologies and the contemporary areas of focus, and hence, the government of India has conceptualized National missions on many such technologies like Cyber Physical System, Semiconductors, and Artificial Intelligence over and above the Anusandhan National Research Foundation. Prof. Sood said that Government of India is implementing Quantum Mission, given the potential this technology has in bringing great transformation in the times to come. He urged Banaras Hindu University to look at this evolving technology and see how the varsity can make its contribution.

Prof. Sood said that the motto of all universities should be to promote innovation in teaching, learning and research and cross pollinate new ideas, new technologies and new world views. He said that NEP 2020 is a step towards creating an ignited work force responsive to regional, national and global needs in tune with the requirements of academia, industry and business.